Chapter One

The tall cowboy kicked his boot heels together, trying to knock some of the dust off of them before stepping into the small-town veterinarian’s office. He headed over to the smiling receptionist’s desk. “Howdy, Miss Becky!” 

“Jake! I thought they were sending that new kid down. I’ve got your order, but the Doc said she needed to see you for a few minutes if you stopped by.”

“Really? I’m kind of in a hurry.”

“She’s in the exam room, but she’s finishing up. Hey, since you two are no longer a thing, when are you going to sweep me off my feet?”

“As soon as you aren’t married to Alejandro.” And as soon as you drop some weight, he thought. “That old vaquero shoots really well.”

She giggled. “Oh, don’t worry about him. Hey, your show is about to start!”

Jake gave her a blank stare. 

“Montana Skies! CMT just started running it in the afternoons. You were so good in that, Jake. You get residuals for that?”

He winked at her. “The ex-wives get those.” He took a deep breath. “The exam room, you said?” 

“Yeah, go on back.”

He had no idea what she wanted with him … now. He just wanted to start heading home, but he mustered his courage and walked back to the exam room. When he opened the door, Doctor Elizabeth Morton was tending to a sheep that appeared to have intestinal issues. 

“Hey, Liz, Becky said you needed to see me if I came by.”

Just then, the stirring, sweeping orchestral theme to Montana Skies blared through the door from the office. She stood up, flipping her long red hair back over her shoulders. “They’re playing our song,” Elizabeth said, her captivating green eyes matched only by her dazzling smile.

Jake laughed and shook his head. “That’s not our song anymore, Liz. How you doing? What’s going on?”

She peeled off her surgical gloves and bade him follow her back to her house, which was attached to the offices. “I need to show you something.” 

When they got inside she removed her smock and threw it on the floor. Facing Jake, she reached back and undid the clasps on her bra, then leaned forward and let it slip off her shoulders.

“Liz …” Jake began to protest.

“Shhh. I know. We broke up. But … well … don’t they look lonely?”

Her ample breasts thrust forward as she breathed deeply, arching her back for further effect. Her pink nipples hardened as he watched. She cupped them, gently sighing as she presented them to him.

“Liz,” he tried again. “We’ve been through this …” 

She stepped forward, her breasts pressing into his chest. She also slipped her arms around his neck. “Jake … honey … it doesn’t have to mean anything. Just two old friends, you know?”

“Just, two old friends? Like, reminiscing or something?”

She felt his hardening bulge against her stomach. “Yes, just reminiscing about the good days. No strings, no commitments, just … this.” She cupped his package for a more significant effect. 

“No strings,” Jake confirmed.

“None.” And she leaned up to kiss him.

- - - - -

Jake put his hands on her breasts and continued to thrust inside her, his sweat dripping from his chin onto her chest. He loved how her flowing red hair looked as it spread across the pillow and mattress. We were always good at this, he thought.

“Yes, Jake,” Liz gasped. “Fuck me … just like that … just like that … oh God, yes …”

Yeah, you like this, don’t you, baby. He watched as she thrashed ecstatically, howling like a wildcat and tossing her head from side to side. Lyrics flashed in his head from an old 80s dance song by a group called The Escape Club:

She’s so mean, but I don’t care 

I love her eyes and her wild wild hair

“You feel so good … inside me,” she moaned, “I’ve missed your big cock … missed it so much … two months is … unh … too long,” she moaned breathlessly. 

He loved hearing her little moans and whimpers, seeing her face twist and contort in pleasure as he pounded her pussy hard. “Take it, baby,” he said between pants. “You’re so tight for me.” He knew she was climbing towards release, but he also knew how to get her there faster.

Taking her by surprise, he slid his arms underneath her and rolled them over, so she was now on top of him, riding him. She always felt tight to him, but, for whatever reason, in this position, her pussy felt like a vice, and that only made it better for him. She put his hands on his muscled chest while he roughly clutched her breasts. For a woman who was a couple of years past her 40th birthday, she had a body that rivaled women in their 20s, and amazingly her breasts had almost no sag. 

Her vagina began to contract and squeeze him. Her eyes had rolled up in her head and her body convulsed. She’d always been able to come so quickly; that was one of the best things about her. He usually had good control, but it had been two months for him, too, and her spasming vagina was too much. He thought of giving her a warning, but she was off in her own world of orgasmic bliss.

They’d been together enough that she knew when he was reaching the zenith as well, so what she said next didn’t surprise him. “Squirt inside me, Jake, make me feel it,” Liz groaned. He released inside her with a fury that surprised both of them … she collapsed on his chest, and both of them struggled desperately to regain control of their breathing. 

As their sweat mixed together, he used every ounce of willpower not to look at his watch. He had a two-hour drive back to the ranch, and he’d planned on getting back before dark, but now Darryl was going to give him shit for wasting half a day just to pick up the medication for the spring calves. Jake didn’t actually report to Darryl, but he knew it made Darryl feel good to think he was running things. 

He turned his head to try to see her alarm clock, but it was hidden behind pictures of various horses. Her entire bedroom was filled with photos of the animals she had healed and saved over her many years as veterinarian to the ranches. 

Liz leaned in and licked the sweat from his neck before rolling off of him. I’ve got to get going, but now the fun begins. Now I have to pay for the sex that I just had by trying to have a conversation with her. 

“So, is old-man Gilroy keeping you busy at the Bar G?” she asked.

“Yeah, my ladies are calvin’, and we’ll have the first guests of the season comin’ in next week. There’s always a lot to do in the Springtime,” he added. “Speakin’ of which …” Jake put his hands on her shoulders and gently started to push her off of him.

Liz was having none of that and she wrapped her arms around him, keeping their bodies pressed tightly together. “He ever give you that raise you told me about over the winter?” 

He bristled. She went there, he thought. So much for no-strings sex. Money had always been a sore subject when they were seeing each other. It was one of the reasons he ended things with her.  “Yeah, he’s giving me another fifty a week.” 

“So that brings you up to what, 275?”

“He’s giving me three,” he muttered almost under his breath. 

“That’s not much to live on for a man of your advanced years.” 

She was trying to be funny, teasing him about his age. He didn’t take her little joke too well, but he wasn’t going to torment her and start another all-out fight like when they broke up. “I also get a room, food, and beer, so I’m doing just fine. Don’t worry about it.” 

“Well, maybe another acting job will come along and you’ll be set for life, huh? Then you can quit pretending to be a cowboy and dealing with the city-slicker-cowboy-wannabe guests. But do you think something huge like Montana Skies is going to happen again?” 

He took a deep breath. She was just itching for another fight, and he was about ready to give her one, but at the last possible moment, he got his temper under control. “I have a few irons in the fire out in California that might just come through.” He paused for a moment. “And besides, I love what I do. I get a lot of satisfaction from my work. I know you don’t think it’s important, but it’s what I like and what I’m good at.”

She looked deep into his eyes. “I offered you so much more, and you turned me down flat without even considering how much it would improve your life.” 

His thoughts turned sarcastic. Okay, you want a fight;, you got one. “And what exactly were you offering me? To take care of your animals? To help you around your little spread? I’d be doing almost the same job as I’m doing now but without any of the fun. I like the ranch, I like the job, and I like the people. You’ve never understood this, but it’s like acting, in a way. I’m on stage, putting on a show every day. Working for you … wouldn’t be the same at all.”

“You can’t ride a horse forever, then what will you do?” She desperately hoped she could change his mind and finally get him to see that she was only trying to offer him something more meaningful. “Besides, you’d be working with me, not for me,” she whispered. 

He laughed at that. “Yeah, right. There’s not one person on your payroll who works with you, Liz. They call you the task-master behind your back, do you know that? If you think I’m not telling you the truth, you should ask them sometime, and if you don’t bite their heads off they might just be brave enough to tell you the truth.”

His words really shook her. My employees like me, right? I always thought they did. He’s just being an ass. “We’re not talking about my veterinary business or my employees, Jake. We’re talking about your future and the life that we should be building together, you and me.” 

“What we had was good, really good. Me spending the weekends here with you, coming here on my days off, I loved it, at least, you know … at first.” 

“We had some wonderful times, Jake … you can’t tell me that it was all bad.” She seductively ran her hand over his chest. “This afternoon was amazing, and it made me realize how much I missed you, how much I missed this.” Her hand ran down his stomach and she grasped his thick cock. Even though it was flaccid, it still impressed her. 

She was playing him, and he knew it. She couldn’t use reason and logic to win the argument, so of course she was going to try to get what she wanted through sex. However, he was having none of it and he pushed her hand away. “Sex isn’t our problem; it never was. We both love doing this, but we have issues that aren’t ever going to be resolved.”

“We can work this out; you just have to be reasonable.” 

Jake sighed. It’s the same old argument; I’m not being reasonable. Has she even listened to a word I’ve said? Christ. “Listen, if you want, when I come into town, we can get in the saddle together; I have no problem with that, but … I just can’t be what you want.”

“You can be what I want, and you can let me take care of you. I’ll give you a good life. All you have to do is let me, Jake.” 

“You want me to be a kept man? Is that what you think I want? Is that what you think I’m about? If that’s really what you think, then you don’t know me at all.” 

“I know you, Jake … better than you know yourself. Can’t you just listen to reason for one time in your life?”

“I care about you, darlin’, I love being with you, but this is old ground. We keep going around the barn, but neither of us will change our minds. We just want different things.” He slipped out of bed and started collecting his clothes that he’d thrown all over the floor earlier. 

She sat up in the bed, her near-perfect body on full display. “I’ll keep the door open for you for as long as I can. Someday, you might just pull your head out of your ass and realize that your life is here with me. Until then, all of … this,” Liz waved her hand over her breasts and vagina, “this door is closed until further notice. You need to grow up, Jake. This is the best offer you’re ever going to get.” 

The only door she heard that afternoon was the one in the front of her house when he slammed it shut.  

Chapter Two 

Taking Jamie by surprise, Chad rolled on top of her. They’d been kissing a little, but she wasn’t really ready to take him inside of her yet. His weight pushed the oxygen from her petite frame. She felt him move his hand between them, reaching for his member. He fumbled with his cock, poking and pressing to find her opening. He pushed himself inside her with one hard thrust. Fortunately, she had just enough inner wetness to take him into her body, and there was only a slight amount of pain because he wasn’t that big, but he remained oblivious to the slight wince she made.

Sex with him was so different now that they’d gotten engaged. He used to take her out, romance her, make her feel special, but now, she felt like a thing that he banged his body against for a couple of minutes to achieve release. His sweat was dripping onto her now. It was something that used to make her feel very sexy, but anymore it only made her want to shower and get his smell off of her. 

Her body had just barely begun to respond when he let out a loud grunt and then collapsed on top of her. She listened to his heavy pants, and after a little bit he could get his breathing under control. After he rolled off of her and lay by her side, their eyes met. “Every now and then, you could move a little, make it better for me … you know that, right, Jamie?” he said condescendingly.  

“I will next time, I promise,” she whispered. 

“You used to be such a great fuck, but I put a ring on your finger, and all that changed, didn’t it?” 

You used to know what foreplay was, but that got lost too after our engagement, didn’t it? She pushed some of her fiery red locks of hair out of her face. “I’ll make it better for you, Chad.” 

He used to hold her after they’d made love, but lately, once he was done with her, he quickly moved on to other pursuits: Going over his business accounts, calling his clients, or playing his Xbox. “Did you get your shit packed? We have a 7:05 flight tomorrow morning, and you know I don’t want to be late because of you like last time.”

“Yes, honey. Everything is packed and ready to go,” she said solemnly. 

“Did you remember my cowboy boots? Both pairs?” 

She thought for a moment. “I thought you had one pair; they’re packed.” 

“Damn it, I just bought a new pair after work today for our trip. You don’t remember me telling you that? I swear you’d forget your head if it wasn’t sewed on.” 

He hadn’t told her about his new pair of boots, but she wasn’t going to argue with him. It was just easier this way. “I’ll make sure I pack them.” 

“Okay … ummm … good.” He looked at his Rolex. “I have a Call of Duty tournament that starts in a few minutes. I’ll be gaming for a few hours, don’t wait up.” He started to slide out of bed. 

“Don’t I get a good-night kiss?” 

“Oh, alright, my chubby little mouse.”

He looked at his watch, rolled his eyes, then gave her a little peck on the cheek. He glanced at his watch again. “Damn it, now I’m late.” He quickly slipped out of bed, put on his boxers, and hustled out of the bedroom.  

She held back the tears until he’d left the room; her crying only angered him, and she knew better than to do it in front of him. Chubby little mouse, that’s what her mother used to call her. “Don’t take it wrong, honey. You know I love your chubby cheeks! They’re so cute!” Mom would then pinch her cheeks because that would make it all better? Jamie regretted the day she told Chad of her unfortunate nickname, thinking she might garner some sympathy. Instead, it became his pet name for her. They were correct, of course. She didn’t have those pipe-stem arms and legs like the Instagram models that Chad so lusted after. She wished she could be rail-thin for him because she knew what he liked, but it wasn’t in the cards. 

She walked to the bathroom, leaned on the counter, and appraised herself with a critical eye. She saw a plain round face, blotchy skin (but she allowed that might be from the crying), bright red hair that she detested, some light freckles that always needed to be covered up with makeup, thin lips, and a plump body. Maybe it’s my fat breasts; why can’t they be smaller? Then I wouldn’t look quite so chubby, she thought mordantly. 

She tried to remember that word Chad had used the other day … svelte. She slipped back into bed and picked up her phone to look at the definition of that word. Slender, elegant, lithe, having clean lines, sleek … she tossed her phone on the bed, wondering why Chad even bothered with such a chubby, non-svelte girl such as herself.

Jamie had fallen for him immediately. Chiseled good looks, full head of black hair, and, if svelte applied to men, his muscled, svelte body gave her the shivers. She knew from the moment she met him that he was the one, the one man she was meant to be with. How could he not be? His inheritance should clear the lawyers soon, and they planned to live on the cliffs above Newport Beach, overlooking the ocean, instead of their current shabby single-bedroom apartment in Costa Mesa. Even though she knew she didn’t come close to meeting his expectations, he was perfect for her, and she was certain that she’d never find a man as good as him. Right? she thought to herself. 

Chapter Three

“Jesus Christ. You can’t be serious. This is a great investment, and all of my other clients are eating this shit up; I don’t know why I have to convince you of this.” 

Jamie squirmed in her seat in the van delivering them to the ranch. Not only was he swearing, but she was certain that he was talking so loudly that none of the other eight guests could carry on a normal conversation. She gently rubbed his thigh in an attempt to get his attention. “Honey, can you put your phone away? You promised me that you wouldn’t make any calls until we got to the ranch.” 

“Fuck, hold on, the old lady is bitching about something,” he snarled into the phone. “What?” he asked impatiently. 

“You promised, no calls,” she said gently.

“Jamie, if I reel this guy in, it’s a thousand-dollar commission for me.” 

Everyone in the van was staring at them now, and she even heard some snide whispers. Obviously, she wasn’t the only one annoyed with her fianceé. “Can you wrap it up for me … please,” she whispered.

“Yeah … yeah … just a few more minutes. Your job is easy compared to mine … any idiot could push jewelry on the unsuspecting public. I actually have to work at this.”

She knew better than to argue with him, and she wasn’t an idiot. She was actually the top saleswoman in her store for six months in a row, and in a typical month she brought home three times what he did. “Okay, honey.” 

Of course, he stayed on his phone the rest of the way to the ranch, and just as the van pulled up to the massive lodge he ended the call without closing the deal. “Thank God we finally got here,” one of the women said as she cut her eyes at Chad and then at Jamie, who hung her head, mortified at the entire experience. Not a good start, but I’ll make it up to them, somehow. 

As they all piled out of the van, Jamie had a chance to take a look at her surroundings. The large lodge was constructed with logs and actually looked like a massive log cabin. Standing  four stories high, the lodge dominated the valley. With the tall pines behind it and the Rocky Mountains a little further back, Jamie could think of only one word for the scene: majestic. 

Seeing the small creek a couple of hundred feet from the front door, she remembered her Dad teaching her how to fish in it when she’d last visited with her parents when she was 14. Of course, that brought up painful memories of their passing two years ago, and she wiped a little tear from her eye. She’d loved coming here with them, and it had always been her favorite vacation with her parents. She hoped that this experience would be as good as that one, but the way Chad was acting she had her doubts. 

Breaking her out of her thoughts, several large men dressed in cowboy attire approached the group. “Howdy, ya’ll, welcome to the Bar G Ranch. We’re here to help you cowpokes with your bags,” one of them said. As the men began grabbing bags, the loud, boisterous one who’d welcomed them approached Jamie and Chad. His tall and lanky body moved with such ease and confidence that Jamie was sure he’d been a cowboy all his life. His weathered face gave away his many years outdoors in the sun, but his kind, gentle eyes and warm smile instantly put Jamie at ease. “Just these two bags, Ma’am?” he said while looking deep into her eyes. It felt as if he was staring into her soul … and her knees went weak.

“Yes, just these two.” 

“Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere? You look really familiar,” Chad said while tucking his cell phone into his pocket.

“I … ummm … I don’t know, pardner. Maybe? Say, you folks know we don’t have a bowling alley, right? How many bowling balls did you bring?” Jake shook one bag; it clanked loudly and looked noticeably heavier than the other.

 “That’s his bag,” Jamie laughed. “He likes to work out with his special kettle weights.”

“We have a workout facility on-site, but okay.”

“I do a lot of special exercises,” explained Chad. “Progressive stuff, you know. You boys probably don’t know much about real workout routines up here.”

“You’re probably right, my friend. We just lift hundred-pound hay bales all day. Welcome to the ranch.” He extended his hand, and Chad shook it. He felt like a vice was crushing his hand. “I’m Jake, by the way.” 

“I’m Chad, and this is my girlfriend … Jamie.” 

“Fianceé,” she corrected. 

He gently took her hand in his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ma’am.” 

She loved his bright, warm smile and his friendly blue eyes. “It’s nice to meet you too,” she whispered. 

They followed him into the lodge, which had a huge great room that bustled with activity as all of the guests were checking in for the week. Her eyes traveled to the large fireplace that featured stacked stones all the way to the ceiling, and she fondly remembered roasting marshmallows with her parents. The walls were constructed with giant logs that were tastefully adorned with large paintings of cowboys and the scenic Montana mountains and countryside. She loved the rustic, bucolic ambiance of this place. Again, it brought back so many cherished memories of the happy times that she’d spent here with her parents.

“A little over-done, isn’t it?” Chad said.

It took everything in her power not to cut her eyes at him. “No, it’s beautiful, it’s perfect. Look at that spectacular view!” She pointed at the wide picture windows that rose to a peak in the center of the great room.  

“I’m glad you like it, Ma’am,” Jake said. “You’re on the second floor if you’ll follow me, please.” 

They walked up the beautiful wood stairs, and once they got to the second floor she took a moment to lean up against the wood railing and look down onto the great room. A few more couples were in the process of checking in and one of them had their children in tow. She studied them fondly as their mother doted on them. She’d always wanted a baby. However, Chad disliked children, but he had promised her that he’d give her one after his inheritance came through. She remembered that he said not to expect any help from him because she’d be doing most of the work raising the rug-rat, as he put it. She was confident, though, that once he saw the beautiful life they’d make together he’d change his mind and become a good father. 

She quickly caught up with the men as Jake opened the door to their room. A large rustic four-poster bed sat in the center of the room with beautiful white lace draped from each post. A small wash station stood near the bed, complete with a porcelain pitcher and basin, and a large attached bathroom that had a massive shower and old-fashioned claw-foot bathtub gave the room both an old-fashioned yet modern ambiance at the same time. 

“I gotta drop a deuce, do you mind, old man?” Chad said while fidgeting beside them. It looked like he was seconds away from soiling himself.  

Jake’s eyes widened, and Jamie’s face broke into a mortified crimson hue at her fianceé’s uncouth behavior. “Right over there, pardner,” Jake responded embarrassedly. He’d seen some real winners before, but this guy took the prize. 

Chad hurriedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change and a single dollar bill. “For your trouble … sorry … can’t wait …” He put the pittance of a tip into Jake’s open hand, sprinted for the bathroom door, and then slammed it behind him.

Jake studied the change in his hand. Not even $1.50, pathetic, he thought, and he tried not to shake his head in disgust. Then he gave Jamie a warm smile. “I hope you enjoy your stay, Ma’am.” Just as he started to turn and head for the door, she stopped him.

“No, please wait, Jake,” she said. He turned, and she stared into those beautiful big blue eyes. She reached into her clutch purse, pulled out two twenty-dollar bills, and handed them to him.

“Ma’am, that’s too much; I can’t accept that.” 

“Please take it … you’ve earned it, every cent of it. And call me Jamie, okay?”

He gave her a big handsome smile. “Okay, Jamie.” For a couple of brief seconds, her delicate, smooth fingers touched his rough, calloused ones, and she felt a little spark. Had they had a moment? She couldn’t help thinking that they had as she closed the door behind him. 

About a half-hour later she’d gotten all of their clothes put away in the antique oak dressers. Chad was still on the toilet, and she could hear him talking on his cell phone again to someone as he attempted to push his penny stocks. His absence didn’t really surprise her, though. For the most part, she waited on him hand and foot. I’ll have no problem taking care of a child, she thought; it feels like I’m already raising one most of the time. 

When he finally emerged from the bathroom, a funk followed him that she was sure would peel the varnish off the wood. Instantly, she breathed through her mouth as the smell accosted her olfactories. He saw the look of revulsion on her face.  

“Yeah … ummm … sorry about that. That thing was at least a ten-pounder, a real masterpiece.” 

She quickly walked over to the window and opened it. The fresh mountain air gave her a welcomed respite from the horrible smell. “You could have taken pity on me and done a mercy flush. You know that, right?” 

“Ummm … yeah … about that … I think I plugged the shitter.”

Because of the horrid smell, Jamie hadn’t moved from the window, but now she felt like jumping out of it. “I guess I can … you know … call someone.” 

“Yeah, that’s the great thing about being on vacation; someone else has to deal with this,” he said gleefully.

I’m the one dealing with it most of the time, she thought disgustedly. If she had access to a plunger she’d be taking care of it now too. That would be much less embarrassing than having someone come to their room. Unfortunately, she didn’t, and she’d have to call someone to help.

The friendly woman on the other end of the phone promised someone would assist them directly, and a few minutes later there was a knock on the door; it was Jake. 

“Problem with your toilet, Ma’– I mean … Jamie?” His eyes were already starting to water as the horrible funk assaulted his nostrils. He quickly discovered that it wasn’t that easy talking to her while trying to hold his breath. The entire room smelled like the horse barn before he shoveled two tons of shit from it. 

“Yeah … ummm … it’s plugged,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Not by me.”

“No problem, it … (cough) … happens all the time.” 

Chad was in the corner of the room, sitting at the small table, and he’d already pulled his cellphone out again. Jamie quickly shut the door so the stench wouldn’t spread into the hall, then she returned to the window to get some more fresh air. A few minutes later Jake emerged from the bathroom. Again, she was mortified. His face had taken on a green tint, and his eyes were watering. “Come stand over here by me; it’s safer over here,” she suggested. 

Jake broke into a big smile while wiping the tears from his eyes. “I’m going into the hallway if that’s okay with you.” To his surprise, she followed him and closed the door behind her. He easily recognized the embarrassed look on her face and attempted to comfort her. “Hey … listen … it happens all the time, no big deal, okay?” 

She heard Chad through the door while he attempted to push his worthless stock on his unsuspecting prospect. “I’m really sorry about this. I feel horrible,” she said while reaching for her clutch purse so she could offer him more money for his time and trouble.

“I refuse to accept any more of your money,” he said playfully. “But … that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to ask you to settle up with me.” 

Already, she loved his sense of humor; it was something that Chad didn’t possess. “Really, now? And just how are you going to make me pay this bill?” she teased.

 “We have a big dance tonight that all of the guests attend shortly after supper. You like to dance, right?” 

“I love to dance,” she said excitedly. “But … I’m more of a city girl. I like to do the bump-and-grind thing.” She paused for a moment. “I’m not really a country dancer.”

“What? You’ve never done the two-step? You’ve never line-danced?”

What she’d said was true. She loved going out partying and clubbing with her girlfriends in Los Angeles. It was something that Chad had always refused to do with her. He had two left feet and no sense of rhythm. “No, I’ve never danced like that.” 

“Well, little lady, my fee for unclogging one toilet is that you allow me to teach you how to line dance. An extra fee for the smell is that I show you how to two-step around the floor.” 

She gave him what she hoped was her best smile. “I’d love that, okay.” 

“You know, most redheads have green eyes, or maybe brown. But your blue eyes … they’re… enchanting.”

She wasn’t sure what came over her, but in that spontaneous moment she reached, took his hand, and squeezed it. He gave her a dashing smile and a gentle squeeze back. 

“So I’ll see you tonight, Miss Jamie?”

“Yes, you will.” 

Chapter Four 

“Where’s Chad? Don’t tell me he left you alone, all dressed up so fancy like you are!” Jake looked Jamie up and down. She wore an Idyllwind brown-and-white cow-print dress that fell slightly above her knees and featured short, off-the-shoulder sleeves. In keeping with the western theme, she’d also purchased a new pair of brown ostrich cowboy boots. 

Jamie smiled, a little embarrassed by the attention. “Yes, I’m here on my own. Chad thinks dancing is dumb, especially line dancing.” He was up in their room, on his phone, attempting to persuade his clients to purchase stock. It seemed like his phone hadn’t left his hand since they arrived, and she was beginning to wonder why he had agreed to come here with her at all. 

She gave Jake a quick once-over. “You clean up pretty nice yourself there, cowboy.” He wore a blue-and-white checkered cowboy shirt, a pair of blue Wrangler jeans that were held up with a belt, and a large silver belt buckle that he’d won in a rodeo many years ago. A very clean and very white Stetson sat atop his head.

“Well, he doesn’t know what he’s missing, does he?” 

She smiled. “No, he definitely doesn’t.” 

Jake spent the next several minutes showing Jamie the steps for the Cowboy Boogie line dance. They were really quite easy, and she picked them up quickly. When they heard Brooks and Dunn’s Boot Scootin’ Boogie begin to play, they made their way to the middle of the great room and were joined by most of the other guests and the cowboys too; they were there to provide assistance and encouragement to the other dancers. As everyone moved around to the synchronized moves, she realized just how much fun this was. Jake was a fantastic dancer, always on the beat and never missing a step. She actually felt a little sad because she would have loved sharing this experience with Chad had he only been willing to take a little risk and try something new. 

Jamie learned a few more songs with Jake’s help and finally needed a break after the surprising workout she’d received. Jake followed her off the floor. “Can I interest you in getting a drink with me, little lady? Anything you want, I’m buyin’.” 

She chuckled because it was all-inclusive; she had already paid for her drinks, and he knew it. But she wanted to play along. “Well, that would just tickle me to death, pardner!” she said in her best faux-Southern drawl, which made him smile. He put his arm on the small of her back and guided her over to the bar. Jake ordered a beer and she requested a Cosmopolitan, which wasn’t really a country drink but had always been her favorite. 

“Cheers!” she said.

“Giddy up,” Jake replied. She smiled at his goofiness. “So, where are you from?” he asked. 

“I grew up in Glendale, California, but we live in Costa Mesa now,” she said after taking a sip of her drink.

“Wow, Los Angeles, way too many people for me.” 

“Hey, we have cowboys in LA,” she said playfully. 

“You have urban cowboys, not the same thing at all.”  

“Yeah, I guess it’s not.” She paused for a moment. “So, you’re telling me that you’re the real deal, huh?” 

“Yes, Ma’am, I am. I was born in Texas, but really, I’ve been all around. I’ve been a full-fledged cowboy for only about twenty years, though. But I’ve been ridin’ since I was about two.” 

She wished she could have conversations like this with Chad, just simple exchanges without any hidden agendas or overt drama. So much of the time, she had to work at relating to Chad, and this felt nothing like that. “So you can really do all of that cowboy stuff?” 

“I can. I can rope, ride, and I love taking care of animals. I guess I’ve pretty much done it all at one time or another.” 

“The last time I was on a horse, I was here, with my parents.”

There was a little longing in her voice that he easily picked up on. “I hope next time ’round you’ll bring them with you.” 

“They passed away in a car accident a few years back,” she said. She could feel her eyes get misty as she thought of them.

He quickly reached out, took her hand, and squeezed it. “I’m truly sorry about that, Jamie,” he said sincerely. 

“It’s okay. This place brings back so many good memories. I’ve wanted to get back here for so long, and I’m glad I finally got the opportunity.” 

There were about a million more questions that he wanted to ask about her life, but he held back. She was a guest, after all, not to mention engaged, and he decided not to overstep his bounds. They’d finished their drinks, and the song that was playing ended. “So, now that you’re a seasoned pro with line dancing, you ready to try the two-step?” 

“You bet. Lead the way, cowboy,” she said jubilantly.  

He spent the next couple of minutes teaching her the two-step; she picked it up even quicker than the line dances. They danced to three more songs as he led her around the dance floor. There were a few times when they did a promenade that reminded her of tango dancing she’d seen on TV, and her body pressed into his, which sent little tingles through her. They did a double twirl at the end of each song where her large breasts sensually crushed up against his muscled chest.  

The DJ announced the night’s last song, and Stand by Your Man began playing. There were a few moments of awkward silence. Of course, this was a slow song that meant a slow dance. Even though he didn’t know it, this was her mother’s favorite song, and she desperately wanted to dance with him. When he extended his arms, she quickly slipped into them. She loved being in his big strong arms and feeling his body against hers. They moved effortlessly, seamlessly together, in perfect unity, as one. He made her feel so safe and protected. She got a bit lost in the romantic moment and rested her head on his chest for the song’s last minute. He made her feel alive and roused emotions that she hadn’t felt in years. All too soon, the song ended, the DJ thanked everyone for attending, and the couple reluctantly disengaged from the embrace.

She quickly glanced at her watch. It was only 9:30, and she didn’t want this perfect night to end. Fortunately, neither did he. “Would you like to get another drink?” he asked.

“I’d love that,” she whispered.

He guided her to the bar, his hand resting on the small of her back. After ordering their drinks, they sat across from each other at a small table. “I think you’ve been lying to me, little lady.” There was such a stoic, stern look on his face she didn’t know what to make of it at first, but then he broke into a big grin. “I think you’re a natural country dancer.” 

She gave him a warm smile. “I had a good teacher.” 

They each took a sip of their drinks, but she wanted to continue their conversation. “So what do you do around here besides unclogging toilets?” she teased.

“I guess I’m a jack-of-all-trades. Mostly I do maintenance work, sometimes tend the animals, anything they need me to do, really.” He paused for a moment before directing the same question at her. “And what do you do?” 

“I sell jewelry in a shop in Newport Beach.” 

“Well, I’m always in the market for a new belt buckle,” he quipped. 

She played along with his little joke. “We don’t have many cowboys coming into the store, but I could always order you one.” 

He laughed. “So, what’re your plans for tomorrow?” 

“We signed up for the morning horse ride and lunch. Chad says he’s ridden a lot, so it should be nice.” 

“That’s great. The Trail Boss, Darryl, and one of my friends, Calvin, are leading that.” 

Her heart sank just a little. She hoped that she’d be able to see him again, but obviously, that wasn’t going to happen. Jamie looked into her martini glass, swirling the last bit of it around before she finished it, and she chastised herself. I shouldn’t care what Jake’s doing, anyway. I need to refocus myself. “What do you guys say up here, ‘time to hit the hay’?”

 “Yeah, me too. I’ll… ummm … see you to your room.” 

They stood up and walked towards the large wooden staircase. As they climbed the stairs, Jake again rested his hand on the small of her back, which sent little tingles through her body. When they reached her door, she unlocked it, opened it, and saw that Chad was in bed, asleep and snoring. Jake quickly scanned the hallway, ensuring that there were no other guests. Then she turned around and faced him. “I had a wonderful evening. Thank you so much for the dancing lessons.” 

He looked into her longing, sparkling-green eyes. “You’re welcome, little Miss.” He wasn’t sure what to do next, so he extended his hand. In that sensual moment, she got caught up, lost in the entire romantic evening that they’d shared. She leaned in, slipping into his arms, and they shared a little kiss, their lips briefly melting together. Just as he leaned back, breaking their passionate embrace, he felt her tongue momentarily brush against his. 

“I hope that I see you around, Jake,” she whispered. 

“I’d love that, Jamie.” 

Chapter Five

“Mornin’, Hollywood.”

Jake yawned in the fluorescent light of the bunkhouse; the dawn’s early light hadn’t even arrived yet as he finished buttoning up his shirt. “S’up, Darryl,” he grumbled. “We got coffee yet?” Jake hadn’t slept well, his brain turning last night’s events over and over.

“Naw, Jimmy is slackin’ again. Jimmy! I told you to be ready at 5:00 o’clock, what’s the matter with you?”

“I set my alarm, I’m awake,” Jimmy whined, still in his boxers. 

“Yeah, you set your alarm, but me ‘n Hollywood is dressed and ready for coffee. You’re holdin’ up the whole damn ranch, son!”

“Lemme get my pants on,” Jimmy whined. 

“Fuck that. Make it naked, I don’t care, just make it right fuckin’ now!” Darryl playfully kicked the new kid in the ass as he walked by, muttering. “Goddamn greenhorns gettin’ greener every year, ain’t they?”

“Yeah,” agreed Jake. “What you got goin’ today? Horse ride?”

“Yeah, Chisholm Trail ride at ten, so gettin’ all the shit together for that. Then afternoon ropin’ lessons. What about you?”

“Gotta mend the fence up on Cripple Creek. Earl said part of it washed out. I’m takin’ The Donk.” That was what they called their little four-wheel-drive all-terrain work vehicle. 

“You get all the good jobs,” quipped Darryl sarcastically.

“Beats shoveling shit like Jimmy over there.” 

“Yeah, well, have fun. Jimmy, hurry the fuck up with that coffee!”

- - - - -

It was getting close to 9:30 in the morning and Jake was about half-done with the fence repair in the upper pasture when Marcy Gilroy, the owner’s wife, called him on the radio. 

“Jake Jake Jake, you out there, son?”

It took him about a minute to where he could walk over to The Donk, but Marcy had called him three more times. “I gotcha Marcy, go for Jake.”

“Jake, we need you to take the Chisholm Trail ride. Darryl fell in the barn and dislocated his shoulder. Can you get back here quick-like?”

That’s at ten, he remembered as he looked at his watch. Thirty minutes from now. “Marcy. Yeah, just barely, can someone saddle up Sailor for me? Then I’ll be good.” Sailor was the ranch’s horse, but nobody would ride him except for Jake and he considered that to be his horse. He began packing his gear.

- - - - -

“Howdy, folks!” Jake addressed the guest riders as they and their horses more or less formed a horseshoe around Calvin. “Sorry I’m late, our trail boss had a little mishap this morning so I’ll be helpin’ out. Calvin has everyone fixed up?” He looked over at Calvin, who nodded his head. Jake liked Calvin; affable, he was competent, hard-working, and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Most folks were surprised to find that this young African American man grew up on the streets of Detroit because he was such an expert horseman, definitely the best on the ranch.

“We’re all set,” Calvin replied. “I got the lead if you take the rear.”

“You got it, boss. Folks, it’s important to remember our big rule: stay on the trail. Any questions?”

“Yeah, I got a question! Weren’t you on that TV show way back? Somethin’ about Montana Skies?” 

Some of the other riders murmured to each other, smiling and nodding their heads as recognition set in. Jake looked at the asker and realized it was that knucklehead, Chad, Jamie’s fiancé. He looked ridiculous in his white New Balance runners, his red collared Polo shirt, cargo shorts, and some kind of 1950’s narrow-brim hat that hipsters wore to try to look cool. How the hell did that asshole land such a stunningly beautiful woman like her? Jake wondered; he never could figure women out, and this was just another glaring example. 

“Yes, I was, thank you for noticin’, any questions concerning the ride today?” Jake had changed tasks in such a hurry that he hadn’t really looked at his riders until just now. He saw Jamie next to Chad and his heart skipped a beat, remembering the previous night. She looked the part of an experienced rider; a good hat, sensible long-sleeved shirt, denim pants, and nice-looking boots. But it was her smile that got to him, that big grin of hers that favored her right side just a bit and gave her such cute dimples on both cheeks. 

Chad piped up again. “And weren’t you also plunging shit in our bathroom yesterday?” Jamie leaned over and hit Chad on the forearm, and it wasn’t a love tap but he continued on. “I’m just sayin’, you’ve come a long way, huh?”

Jake pulled out his Marlin 1895 rifle (chambered in 45/70), a typical cowboy’s lever-action gun, and checked that it was loaded. “I’ve never had to use this rifle on over a thousand rides, but today might just be the first.” All the riders laughed, save one, as he put it back in the scabbard.  

Calvin whistled and hollered “Ya!” and the sixteen riders began their trek up the Chisholm Trail toward their destination, lunch on the banks of Snowshed Creek. 

The horses, gentle older fellas and mares, traveled this route nearly every day in the warm months. They knew the way without much assistance or guidance from their riders. The trail was wide enough in parts for them all to ride side-by-side, but the animals mostly kept to single file. While Calvin rode point, Jake adjusted his speed so he could talk to the various riders for a few minutes each. And with Chad’s information dump, most wanted to ask about his well-being and how they just loved him in Montana Skies, and boy, they’d sure just love to see him do another series, or hey, what about a movie!

Jamie noticed that Jake took all the questions in stride, never hesitating to give out details and whatnot about his acting career. But she could tell it weighed on him. All the personality she saw in him last night faded away when he talked of his past life. Hell, anyone could see that it bothers him if they just looked at him for a few moments; leave him alone! she wanted to shout.

Chad, meanwhile, droned on to Jamie about how hard the show-biz industry was. But she only half-listened as he spoke of his good friend, who was a producer for Warner Brothers, and the stories he told. Chad had so many good friends she didn’t bother to keep track of them all, and she actually began to wonder how many of them really existed. But she nodded appropriately and gave out “uh-huh’s” when it was required. She really wanted to apologize to Jake for Chad making a scene, but she knew it wouldn’t bode well for her if she did it in front of Chad. 

Finally, she thought as Jake slowed his horse and they caught up to him, she being closest to him as Chad moved up alongside them. 

“How you folks doin’, enjoyin’ the mornin’?” Jake asked pleasantly. He wasn’t about to let that dumbass spoil his morning, especially when riding next to Jamie.

“We’re all good, it’s so lovely here! The mountains are just majestic! Look at the snow! And–” Jamie gushed.

“Yeah, yeah,” Chad interrupted. “We’re good, and the shitter seems to be working fine today. Thanks for asking.”

“Well, now,” mused Jake, “you’re probably just not as full of shit as you were yesterday.”

Jamie broke out into a loud laugh before clamping her mouth shut. Chad just responded, “Ha-ha. So now you’re a funny cowboy, too, huh? Boy, aren’t you just a master of everything … except acting, apparently.”

“Chad! Stop it!” Jamie couldn’t believe how much of an ass he could be.

“Now hold on, little darlin’, a man has a right to speak his piece, uninformed as it is. I actually was a good actor, but it was the drinking, the drugs, and the philanderin’ that kept me from getting more roles. Now … I’m just damaged goods. You got any more questions about that?”

Jamie successfully hid the shocked feelings she was experiencing. He’d kept their conversations light and pleasant last night and hadn’t revealed any of this very personal information to her. Chad started to answer, but she cut him off. “Well, Jake, I’d like to know what kind of flowers are those over there?” She pointed to a nearby hillock blanketed in purple.

Jake beamed at Jamie. “Ain’t they beautiful? Those would be, let’s see, the purple ones are Jacob’s Ladder. But there’s a few violets in there amongst them. These yellow ones we’re almost steppin’ on are Toadflax. Then you’ve got your St. John’s Wort over there … and look! Columbine! Those white ones? They’re kinda rare.” Jake imagined a blanket, a bottle of wine, and Jamie lying naked on the blanket in this field of flowers, and he warned himself. No! Stop it! She’s engaged!

“They’re so lovely! I can’t believe they all just grow wild like this!”

“I can’t believe I got no cell service,” Chad blurted out, looking at his phone.

Ignoring him, Jake continued to name flower after flower for Jamie, loving the fact that she appreciated the wild and beautiful country. He liked the way she looked at him when he talked, so interested, so focused on him. He also loved being able to look at her so much. In conversation, people are supposed to look at each other, but these two maintained so much eye contact that anyone would have thought something was going on. 

“Do you smell that?” Jake asked.

“What, the flowers?”

Jake took in a big exaggerated breath and blew it out noisily. “It’s fresh air! Ain’t it better than smellin’ smog, and tar, and all that other crap that cities put in the air?”

“It smells like hay-fever season to me,” Chad interjected.

Jamie looked at Chad for several seconds, then turned to face Jake again. A chill ran through her as she tried to recover from a near-catastrophic moment. I was about to ask him why he’s here if he’s just going to be a little bitch about everything.

At about the 45-minute mark they reached a nice shady spot on the edge of a meadow in a verdant valley, surrounded by ponderosa pines on the uphill side while quaking aspens, sycamore, and river birches grew along the good-sized creek cutting through the middle of it. Calvin signaled for a rest, and the riders gathered together to chit-chat. 

“Lotta folks like to take pictures here,” Calvin announced, “or just get a drink of water. We’ll pick up again in about ten minutes, and lunch is about twenty minutes after that. You can tie up your horse over here, but I’d prefer you to stay mounted. Regardless, stay close, okay? Don’t nobody go wanderin’ off.”

One of the larger guests mentioned that her saddle seemed to be slipping, and asked if someone could help her?. Calvin tied up his horse, but Jamie offered to hold Sailor’s reins as both of the ranch hands helped the woman dismount. While they looked over the front and back cinch, figuring out which one was loose, they heard hoofbeats leaving the group. Jake stood up, trying to see who had left. It took him several moments before he realized it was Chad, racing across the meadow at top speed towards the creek. 

“Chad! Get back here! Chad!” Jake screamed at the top of his voice, but Chad either didn’t hear or didn’t heed the command. 

“Goddamn that guy,” he muttered under his breath as he headed towards his horse. He figured he would have to go after him and bring him back. How hard is it to stay on a fucking trail?

“Jake!” Jamie called out in a concerned voice. “What’s that on the other side of the creek?”

Jake looked where she pointed and his blood ran cold. Emerging from the trees on the other side of the creek, about a half-mile away, was Jake’s worst nightmare. Oh shit! A fucking grizzly … and two cubs … a mama bear.

He hopped on Sailor and took off as fast as he could, but Chad already was more than a hundred yards ahead of Jake. “Turn around, you idiot!” Jake called again, but Chad kept going. What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? Jake’s mind raced as he tried to think of a way this might play out with a good ending, but he couldn’t think of any. 

Chad’s horse must have smelled the bear because he stopped suddenly and reared up, afraid. Chad slid off the back end, got up off the ground, and then walked towards the bear, pointing his cell phone at it.

The bear stood on her hind legs, extending up to her full height of almost eight feet, bellowing as she did so. Her two cubs scrambled up a nearby tree, obeying their mother’s warning. Chad began to realize his dangerous predicament, but it was too late. 

Jake watched from astride his mount as 800 pounds of angry mama grizzly bear began her charge towards Chad. Jake thought he could probably snatch up Chad in about fifteen seconds … but he calculated the bear would reach Chad at about the same time. Grizzlies could run at upwards of thirty miles an hour for short periods, Jake remembered, and that would be enough time for her to close the distance.

Sailor began to falter; he didn’t like the idea of running towards a charging grizzly. The bear bellowed again, running faster than what seemed possible. Chad stood still, paralyzed by fear, his smartphone capturing the drama on video.

Jake suddenly felt like he was operating in slow motion. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind, with the primary thought being, He’s going to die. I can’t let that happen. And some troubling thoughts also jumped into the mix. But he’s an asshole, and he deserves what he gets for not listening to me and being so stupid.

A hundred yards from the bear, Sailor tried to turn around, but Jake frantically dug his spurs into his flanks and only his expert handling kept him on course. 

Mama bear kept charging toward Chad and her terrifying bellows chilled all who heard because they knew what it meant; mama was about to rain death and destruction upon her chosen victim. Her mouth agape, saliva spewing from both sides of it, her giant teeth ready to sink into Chad’s fleshy body, many of the guests screamed in horror at Chad’s imminent dismemberment. 

As Sailor galloped his old heart out, Jake reached for the rifle in his scabbard.

- - - - -

To be continued …